Everything pointed towards a comfortable evening for the hosts, who were the league’s form side after a recent run which has seen them re-enter European contention.
Ajaccio, meanwhile, had lost five of their last six league matches, and they made the worst possible start to the match when Nice captain Dante hooked a cross from Badredine Bouanani past Benjamin Leroy, who got a strong hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it going in.
Most onlookers will have expected the early goal to open the floodgates, however the visitors remained competitive for the rest of the first half and kept themselves in the contest.
L’Ours have the joint-worst attacking record in Ligue 1, but with half-time approaching Mounaïm El Idrissy came agonisingly close to equalising.
The French forward rose highest to meet Mohamed Youssouf’s cross, yet saw his header fly just wide of the left post.
The majority of Ajaccio’s points (61%) had been picked up on their travels, so it perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Olivier Pantaloni’s side were making a good fist of what appeared to be a daunting challenge.
Much of the second half was a similar story to the first, with goalmouth action at a premium as both teams struggled in attack.
However, in-form Nice were able to show their class in the closing stages to put the game beyond doubt, with Bilal Brahimi twice finding the net to secure yet another victory for Didier Regard’s men.
The result sees Nice climb one place to seventh, while struggling Ajaccio remain 18th and still very much in danger of relegation.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bilal Brahimi (Nice)
